Releasing device.



' J. N. MURARY. RELEASING DEVICE.4

APPLIoAfrIoN FILED MAR. 2a. V1910.

JOI-IN NORMAN MCCRARY, OF LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

RELEASING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led March 22, 1910.

Patented July 5, 1910. Serial No. 550,992.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN N. MGCRARY, a citizen of the United States, residing at LeX ington, in the county of Davidson and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Releasing Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a releasing device and consists in the novel construction and arrangement of its parts as hereinafter shown and described.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and durable device of the character indicated adapted to be used for securing several animals in a series of stalls and which is adapted to be easily and quickly operated to release all of the said animals simultaneously.

With the above object in view the structure includes a tube which is adapted to be passed transversely through the stalls and which is closed at one end by means of a plug. A rod is slidably mounted Within the tube and is provided at intervals along its length with hooks. The tube is provided with a corresponding series of apertures and the rod is subjected to spring action which 4has a tendency to move the hooks of the said rod away from the said apertures. A holding device is located at that end of the tube opposite the end thereof in which the plug is located and the said holding device is adapted to engage the end of the rod and -hold the hooks thereof transversely across the aperturesin the tube and against the tension of the said spring. The apertures in the tube are adapted to receive edge portions of halter rings and the said hooks upon the rod are adapted to engage the rings and hold the same in attached condition to the rod and tube.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a top plan view of the device of parts broken away and parts in section; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the holding mechanism of the device.

The releasing device consists of a tube l which is provided at intervals along its length with apertures 2. The tube l is adapted to be located transversely across the head portions of a series of stalls and an aperture 2 is located between the side walls or partitions of each stall. A plug 3 closes one end of the tube l and a plate 4 is located at the other end of the said tube. A rod 5 is slidably mounted within the tube l and is provided at intervals along its length with hooks 6 which when in normal condition are projected transversely across the apertures 2 in the tube l. A coiled spring 7 is located within the tube l and is interposed between the inner end of the plug 3 and the adjacent end portion of the rod 5 and is under tension with a tendency to move the said rod so that the free ends of the hooks G will be carried beyond the apertures 2 in the tube l. A hasp 8 is pinned to the plate 4 and is provided at its free end portion with an opening adapted to receive a staple 9 also mounted upon the said plate 4. The staple 9 is adapted to receive the bail l0 of a lock or similar device after the hasp 8 has been positioned around the said staple and is in close proximity to the plate 4. The end of the rod 5 projects beyond the end of the tube l at that end thereof at which the plate 4 is located and when the hasp 8 is closed against the plate 4 in the manner as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings the inner side of the said hasp engages the end of the rod 5 and moves the same longitudinally against the center of the spring 7 so that the hooks 6 are projected transversely across the apertures 2 in the tube l.

Prior to moving rod 5 longitudinally within the tube 1 as above indicated the edge portions of halter rings ll are projected through the apertures 2 and the said hooks pass at their free end portions within the said halter rings and serve as means for securing the said rings to the rod 5 and the tube l. It is of course to be understood that halter straps or chains may be con-y nected with the rings 11 in the usual manner and that a ring l1 is located in each stall of the series of stalls.

From the above description it will be seen that in the case of fire or other emergency when it is desirable to quickly release all of the animals from the series of stalls that it is simply necessary to remove the bail lO of the lock from the staple 9 and permit the hasp 8 to swing away from the plate 4 which it will do through the strain of the rod 5 in consequence of the tension of the spring 7. As the said rod 5 moves longitudinally in the tube l the hooks 6 are carried with the rod away from the apertures 2 in the said tube and therefore the inner free ends of the hooks 6 will hit against the halter rings l1 and the said halter rings will fall out of the apertures 2 and the series of animals are released. By this arrangement it will be seen that all parts of the securing mechanism located between the walls of the stalls are housed within the tube l and consequently there are no projecting parts of the device with which the halter strap may become entangled or engaged when the animals are severed from the device. Also by reason of the fact that the spring 7 is housed within the tube l the said spring is protected against rust and the deteriorating eects of water etc. Consequently the said spring will retain its tension and may of necessity be relied upon to act in case of emergency.

Having described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is 1. A releasing device comprising a tube having a series of apertures, a plug closing one end of the tube, a rod slidably mounted within the tube and having a series or' hooks corresponding in number with the apertures in the tube, a spring interposed between the plug and the adjacent end of said rod and being under tension with a tendency to hold the hooks upon the rod away from the apertures in the tube and a hasp hingedly mounted and adapted to bear against the end of said rod and hold the same against the tension of the spring and a securing means for the AJfree end portion of said hasp.

2. A releasing device comprising a tube having a series of apertures, a rod slidably mounted in the tube and having a series of hooks corresponding in number with the apertures in the tube, a spring located within the tube and exerting its tension upon the said rod to hold the hooks thereof away from said apertures, a plate attached to the tube and having said rod projecting at its end portions beyond its outer side, a staple mounted upon said plate, a hasp hinved to said plate and having an opening adapted to receive said staple, said hasp when closed against the plate adapted to bear against the end of said rod and hold the same against the tension of the spring whereby the hooks carried by the rod will be positioned transversely of the apertures and a holding means for the hasp adapted to engage said staple. n

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN NORMAN MCCRARY. Vitnesses:

JNO. H. MoYER, F. C. SINK. 

